How to understand CQI-30 requirements in the rubber tire manufacturing industry

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In today's tire manufacturing industry, ensuring product quality and production efficiency has become the key to the survival and development of enterprises. With the advancement of technology and the continuous change of market demand, the requirements for quality control standards in the industry are also continuously improving. Among them, the CQI-30 standard is adopted by more and more tire manufacturers and rubber manufacturers as an important quality management tool to ensure that products can meet or even exceed customer expectations.

This article will delve into the application of the CQI-30 standard in the tire industry, including its basic concepts, structure introduction, comparison with other standards, and the specific details of gage research requirements, aiming to provide practical guidance for quality control work in the tire industry.

01 One

Relationship of CQI-30 to IATF16949 standards

CQI-30 is an audit method and requirements specifically applied to the rubber and tire manufacturing process, aiming to improve the product quality and production efficiency of tire manufacturers and rubber manufacturers.

CQI-30 is an audit standard for rubber manufacturing processes developed by the American Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), released in October 2022, and is designed to complement and support Section 9.2.3 - Manufacturing Process Audit Clause in the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 standard. This standard not only emphasizes the importance of manufacturing process audits, but also proposes audit methods that adopt customer-specific requirements. Unlike traditional process audit methods, the CQI-30 focuses more on the process system requirements of the rubber manufacturing process in the manufacturing process to ensure that each step meets the precise needs of the customer.

What makes CQI-30 special compared to other process audit methods, such as the German VDA6.3, is its flexibility and relevance. It is not just a one-size-fits-all audit framework, but one that can be adapted to the needs of specific industries and production processes. Both manufacturers and customers can use CQI-30 guidance and assessment to help identify and resolve potential problems in these rubber manufacturing processes.

02 Two

Manufacturers like rubber and tires have CQI-30

The structure of the CQI-30 provides tire manufacturers with a clear framework for evaluating and improving their manufacturing processes, ensuring that high standards of quality control are maintained.

At the heart of CQI-30 is its approach and requirements for process audits, which are designed to align with the relevant provisions of the international automotive industry standard IATF 16949. It consists of two main parts: the general management requirements and the audit of the rubber processing process. This distinction provides tire manufacturers with an audit framework that is both universally applicable and able to focus on specific manufacturing segments.

1. General management requirements

This section focuses on general management and documentation requirements and applies to all companies involved in the production of rubber processes. It covers management responsibilities and quality planning, job audits.

2. Requirements for rubber processing process

This section is more focused on the specific aspects of tire production, especially those steps that are directly related to rubber processing. Among them, special mention is made of the rubber mixing process (compounding process), which is the first step in tire manufacturing. In addition, inspections and tests, facility and equipment requirements, and evaluations related to the vulcanization process are included. These assessments and inspections are specifically designed to ensure the quality of the rubber and the compliance of the processing process.

It is worth mentioning that while CQI-30 provides a comprehensive audit standard for rubber processing, what Part VIII deals with substrate preparation does not apply to tire manufacturers. This part is more applicable to skeletal material suppliers in the supply chain, covering the preparation process of metallic and non-metallic materials.

In summary, the CQI-30 provides a comprehensive quality control and process audit framework for the tire manufacturing industry. It not only emphasizes the critical aspects of the manufacturing process, such as compounding and vulcanization, but also takes into account the requirements of production facilities and equipment, as well as the importance of product inspection and testing. By following the guidance of CQI-30, tire companies are able to more effectively identify and resolve issues in production, thereby improving product quality and meeting customer and industry standards.

03 Three

Differences between product audits in CQI-30 and VDA6.5

Before exploring the differences between CQI-30 product audits and VDA6.5 in terms of job audits, it is important to understand the core purpose and application scenarios of these two standards. The CQI-30 focuses primarily on the rubber and tire manufacturing industries, with a special emphasis on process and product quality control. VDA6.5 is a product audit standard that is more widely used in supply chain management in the automotive industry. Although both are quality audit tools, there are significant differences in the details and focus of their implementation.

Product audits in CQI-30 focus specifically on rear-tracking the production process backwards, starting with the final product – in this case, the tire. This means that the focus of the audit is on the ability to trace back all relevant production steps and inspection records from the finished product to ensure that every step of the process meets the established quality standards. This approach allows tire manufacturers to ensure that each tire can be traced back to its specific manufacturing process, so that problems can be quickly located and corrective action can be taken when they are identified.

In contrast, VDA6.5's job audit is more inclined towards the final inspection and evaluation of the product rather than a retrospective production process audit. While it also covers the inspection of product quality, it focuses more on assessing whether the product meets the customer's needs and specifications, and whether the product can be ensured before delivery.

In addition, VDA6.5, as a standard that is more widely applicable to the entire automotive industry, may tend to be more applicable to multiple types of automotive parts and components, rather than just rubber and tire manufacturing.

The main difference between job review in CQI-30 and VDA6.5 is their respective focus and scope of application. CQI-30 pays more attention to every detail of the production process and its impact on the quality of the final product, emphasizing the traceability audit to ensure product quality and transparency of the production process. VDA6.5, on the other hand, focuses more on the final quality of the product and the ability to meet customer requirements. For tire manufacturers, understanding the differences between these two audit standards and their respective benefits can help them implement quality control measures more effectively, thereby improving product quality and customer satisfaction.

04 Four

Understanding of the gage research requirements in the CQI-30 standard

In the CQI-30 standard, the requirements for gage research have their specific focus, especially in the rubber and tire manufacturing industries. Gage research is mainly divided into two main categories, but CQI-30 specifically states that for bulk materials such as rubber, the first type of gage research is mainly required. This means that manufacturers need to ensure that their accuracy, resolution, and environment are up to the production needs in the selection and use of gages, rather than requiring more complex measurement system analysis (MSA).

1. Understand the first type of gage research

At the heart of the first type of gage research is the assessment of the deviations that may be introduced by the gage itself, without involving other sources of variation in the measurement process. This research focuses on the standardization, accuracy, and accuracy of the gage, and ensures that the gage can be used accurately in the specified environment. To put it simply, when a manufacturer selects a gage, it only needs to verify that the performance indicators of these gages meet the requirements of the manufacturing process.

2. Why don't you need an MSA?

In rubber and tire manufacturing, performing a full MSA analysis may not bring additional value. Due to the physical properties of rubber itself, the measurement results can be highly variable due to the softness and deformation properties of the material. Therefore, the CQI-30 standard considers that a Type 1 study based on the deviation of the gage itself is sufficient for this type of material.

3. Application in practice

In practice, manufacturers need to issue a calibration certificate for the gage to prove that it meets the requirements for accuracy and resolution. This includes not only the initial calibration of the gage at the time of purchase, but also maintenance and periodic recalibration in daily use. Even though the CQI-30 does not require a complex MSA, routine maintenance and proper use of the gage remains key to ensuring measurement accuracy and production quality.

In summary, the requirements of the CQI-30 standard for gage research provide a practical and efficient quality control tool for the rubber and tire manufacturing industry by emphasizing the verification and maintenance of the accuracy of the gage itself. This approach simplifies the process of auditing and quality assurance, and ensures accurate and reliable measurement results in production activities.